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Include real-life chemistry in your depth studies
We use chemistry every day to treat, monitor and manage the urban water cycle, and we've developed a range of depth study resources linked to the Stage 6 Chemistry syllabus. Your students will learn how we manage water with free resources that bring real-world applications of chemistry to life and assist with their HSC preparations.
Depth study program outlines
Looking for inspiration for a whole-class depth study? Take a look at our depth study programs.
- Drinking water depth study program
- Water recycling depth study program
- Wastewater depth study program
Each program gives you ideas for 4 hours of in-class activities that will support our Stage 6 Chemistry depth study excursions.
We also have some practical investigations to help you understand how our plants work.
- Drinking water treatment flow diagram practical investigation
- Wastewater treatment flow diagram practical investigation
- Recycled water flow diagram practical investigation
The resources below should get you started.
Understand natural buffer systems
Make an indicator out of cabbage! Watch our Make a pH indicator video to see how you can test things in your home and see if they are an acid or a base.
Consider perceptions
Set up an experiment to better understand what people think of water.
Balance chemical equations
These resources will help you understand the chemistry behind the treatment process at Orchard Hills Water Filtration Plant.
- Balancing chemical equations – teacher instructions and answers
- Balancing chemical equations – student worksheet
- Chemical equation card sets Set A, Set B and Set C
Make a simple water filter
Using everyday items, discover what makes a good water filter and learn how Sydney's water is filtered so it's safe to drink.
- Make a simple water filter (182KB) – experiment
- Orchard Hills Water Filtration Plant – learn more about the filtration process used at Orchard Hills
- Make mock water samples
Understand polymers
Investigate how they're used in water treatment.
- Polymers in water and solids recycling – fact sheet
- Polymers in reverse osmosis membranes – fact sheet
- Polymers in water and solids recycling practical investigation – investigate organic chemistry used in wastewater treatment
- St Marys Advanced Water Treatment Plant – learn about technologies used to make recycled water
- Penrith Water Resource Recovery Facility – find out more about the wastewater treatment process used at Penrith
